Summer Majolica

(sharing a post from a few summers ago...)

Hi Everyone, I hope you were able to catch a few of the lovely Summer Home Tours that were a part of A Stroll Thru Life, Marty's, Home Tour Series. I shared a few pics from my Summer Sitting Area in the Kitchen, and here are a few more from the Baker's Rack showing a few pieces of my Majolica.

Summer Home Tour

Hello Everyone, Welcome to my Summer Home Tour, 2017. I'm joining Marty from A Stroll Thru Life and a talented group of bloggers who are sharing their Homes decorated for Summer. If you are coming over from Haneen's Haven, so glad that you came by today and I hope I'll be seeing you again, soon.

Summer Door Decor in the Sitting Room

I've been "Summer-fying" the kitchen sitting area this weekend, and you all know that means changing up the quilt, pillows, and the florals that decorate the old door and mirror behind the wicker settee. I had this post named "Summer Swag in the Sitting Room", but it dawned on me some of you all might not be familiar with that term... a swag... meaning a gathered bunch of flower stems.  It's not a wreath and it's not in a basket. I guess it gets it's name from being similar to a swag curtain. Fabric that drapes down and is gathered together and sometimes tied with a ribbon. OK, whatever we call it, I have one here on the old door.

The Official, better late than never, Spring Home Tour

Hi Friends, after the last post, there's probably no doubt in your minds that I've been a little cray-cray this year, but I realized that I've never posted a complete Spring Home Tour. I like to keep an "Official" Tour on my sidebar and on my "pages" for each season. I just rounded up most of my photos from earlier this Spring...before Easter, so here they are, all in one spot.

Easy Spring Wreath and April on the Settee...

This last week, after Easter, I slowly made some changes around the house to bring it more to a place of "Spring", and not so much "Easter". I had a bunch of bunnies hanging around, so this week they've been packed away...except for one or two that do "double duty". One of my favorite little guys is this felted wool fella that I use on my Springtime wreaths.

Spring Bouquet and the Baker's Rack

Taking photos in the Kitchen and Kitchen Sitting Area can be a little tricky. The light comes from the South and Southwest, so it's often harsh and blinding. I try to wait for a cloudy day, but even then the pics can be lackluster. Late this afternoon I grabbed my camera and changed the lens to try to get a few close-ups with better color... a little better...

2 Spring Totes

Hi Friends, I hope you were able to catch the Spring Home Tours this last week. So much inspiration! I shared my Kitchen Sitting Room and Living Room on Wednesday, but there are a few items where I'd like to share a bit of detail.

Living Room and Sitting Room Spring Home Tour

Hi Friends, are you feelin' all the "Spring" Love this week? It's overflowing here in Blogland with all the Spring Home Tours filled with beautiful decor and ideas to get us out of the winter doldrums and bring us into all the fresh colors and warmth of the new season. 

Spring Forecast for Next Week

No matter what the weather might be like on the other side of the door; one week in the 80's with trees and flowers blooming, the next week lows in the upper teens ... it's Spring inside the cottage. I thought I'd share a few snaps of how Spring has Sprung this last week...

"Blooming 'Brella" and Friends

I've been bringing out some "Spring" around here this last week. It will be "Spring" until the end of March and then I'll get together some Easter decor. I really prefer Easter being in April, otherwise it's just too chilly and I like being able to enjoy both early Spring and then Easter. I know there's a fine line, but rabbits and bunnies, chickens, eggs and nests can do double duty... do I sound like a crazy old woman who doesn't have anything else to do except chit chat about seasonal decor items? please don't answer that.

  

Share the Love...

I don't go "all out" for Valentine's Day. I don't think many of us do unless we have kiddos that have fun with it, and expect to see decorations for every holiday that comes along. I enjoy bringing some reds and pinks and vintage items into the decor, especially here in the Kitchen Sitting Area. That's the place where I can indulge my holiday decorating gene to the fullest. 

Vintage Valentine "Love"

I'm getting a few things together for Valentine's Day here in the Kitchen Sitting Area,

 but it's taking me a little longer this last week to get things accomplished. 

So, I thought I'd share a little Valentine's Love while I'm getting the rest of it together.

Christmas Brunch in Tartan Plaid

A week or so ago, I had a little trial run to set a Christmas Breakfast or Brunch with my Red Transfer ware. I had been looking for Red Tartan Plaid placemats, and found these on Ebay. They were half the retail price from last year, and were brand new in the original packaging from Penneys, so I was glad to find these. I bought two sets, since when I need them, I'm usually setting a table for six.

Christmas Home Tour 2016 Part 2

Hi Everyone, 

I hope you're having a wonderful week before Christmas.

I imagine it's a busy one too!

I'm here to share Part 2 of my Christmas House Tour with you.

Vintage Greetings from the Sitting Room

I was going through my photos today, putting together a "comprehensive" (ahem) Home Tour Post/s, when I realized I really hadn't shared much from the Kitchen Sitting Room. what? no, not much. I have a few things, really sort of random, but hey, isn't that what the weekend is for...?  So I'm going to combine a few new things from the KSA and a few items I've "Gathered" to share.

My Mirror on the Old Door is decorated for the Season,

with some greenery, Holly, and a feisty little Cardinal.

I had moved my moss covered "O" onto the vintage mirror

since the Boxwood Wreath replaced it in the Entry Area.

A Little Tweaking Makes it Thanksgiving...

Hi Friends, hope you're having a wonderful weekend. My sis and I hit a couple of Christmas Open Houses on Friday evening, and to be honest, I'm totally heading into Christmas Mode. After seeing all the great Christmas goodies and vintage decor, I came home ready to start dragging out the Christmas tubs and boxes. BUT...as I said my last post, I still have some "Thanksgiving" I haven't shared here on the blog. So if you're tired of Talkin' Turkey, I give you permission to skip this one.

NO WAIT!!!

You might find something fun to tuck away until next year. Do you have a Pin Board for Thanksgiving? OK, so Pin a few of these cute guys and I have the Christmas fun waiting till next week!

Breadboards and Spode Transferware; Snacking in Style

Even though it's been awhile since I've hosted a big Holiday/Family dinner, I do like to have some snacks and drinks ready for the kids when they roll into town. They're usually ready to gnosh on something easy until we all get together to head out for dinner. Cheeses, sausages, breads, crackers, olives and some raw veggies; easy things that don't require seating. Actually we usually just grab a napkin or plate and stand around/and over the spread.

Late Fall Lookback...

Last day of October, so I start thinking about tweaking my Fall things to head toward Thanksgiving. I got to looking back at my pics from last year at this time and I realized I didn't have everything "Thanksgiving" together in one blog post. So, to get things rolling and before I let all the turkeys out of the gate, I thought I'd share a post with the highlights from last year.

Kitchen China Cupboard for Fall

Earlier this Fall I found bags of these adorable glittered acorns

 at (I think) Hobby Lobby.

I knew I'd use them somewhere for a bowl filler or accent. 

They ended up here in the Kitchen China Cabinet. 

It would have been fun to make them myself, but since they were half price,

I did the lazy crafter's thing, and saved myself a lot of mess.

My kitties girls love them a roll in glitter, 

which in turn gets everywhere.

Glitter Kitties and more to clean up.

Decor Philosophy for Cupboards, and Life

It's been said, more than once, that I can't leave a flat surface alone. Meaning that I have to "decorate" every square inch, and it wasn't often said with an affirmative attitude. I think I may be a little better than I used to be. When you have goodies you love, they just cry out to be used and appreciated!